Fire-escape



(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

G. W. HUBBARD.l

FIRE ESCAPE..

No. 306,489. PatentedlOot. 14, 1884.

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(No Model.)

G. W. HUBBARD, 2 sham-snm .FIRE ESCAPE.

No. 806,489. Patented Oct. 14, 1884.

Hlimlll ETH lalllllllf I IWI I HI nutren @rares Paritair GEORGE W'. HUBBARD, OF CHICAGO, lLLlNOlS.

FIRE-ESCAPE SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 306,@89, dated October lll, 1.884.

Application tiled April 25, 1SS4. (No model.)

To all whom, it may conceive:

Re it known that I, GEORGE W. Heimann, of Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Fire-Escapes, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to the construction of an automatic brake for lire-escapes, consisting of extensible or revolving ladders, and in the construction of devices for the purpose of detaching automatically the carriers or baskets with which said ladder is provided.

ln the accompanying drawings, Figure l is a side elevation of a portion of a revolving ladder and showing my improved brake mechanism, also in side elevation, applied thereto. Fig. 2 is a front el ovation of the ladder, showing its relative position to the wall of the building and to the windows. Fig. 3 is aside elevation of the bottom portion ofthe ladder, showing the carrier attached thereto and the means for disengaging said carrier; and Fig. 4 is a side elevation ofthe bottom of the ladder, showing the means for revolving it and also a hand-brake to be used in connection with the ladder.

My improvements are designed to be used in connection with a revolving or extensible ladder', A, which may be madein any suitable way. rl`he ladder is carried by sprocketwheels B B, the former being mounted upon a shaft, D, and the latter upon a shaft, D. Shaft D may be carried in a suitable framework mounted on the edge of the roof or the top ofthe fire-wall of the building, and shaft D/ in a suitable frame-work in convenient proximity to the ground. Shaft D may be provided with a crank, d, for the purpose of operating the ladder to carry up a person or article. A shaft, C, parallel to shaft D, is mounted above the sprocket LB, and carries first a pinion, c, next a gear-wheel, E, and upon its outer end a bevel-pinion, c. A gear-wheel, F, mounted on the shaft D, meshes with pinion c, thus rotating shaft C. This shaft C, through the medium of' bevel-pinion c, revolves the vertical shaft of the governor G. As the velocity of said shaft increases the balls of the governor swing outward and raise, through the medium of links, a sliding sleeve, H, on

the spindle of the governor. To this sleeve is connected the end of thelever-armlz, which is made to apply a friction band or belt, I, to the surface ofthe friction-wheel t'. Frictionwheel 'i is mounted on a shaft, J. Shaft ,l carries a pinion, j, which meshes with gearwheel E.

lVhen the ladder is in use and begins to descend rapidly under the weight of a person or article, the friction-belt l is applied through the means of the governor, as before described, thus checking automatically the too rapid descent of the ladder. A hand-brake, l, may also be used in conjunction with the automatic brake heretofore described. rlhis brake is shown in the drawings, Figs. 3 and f-l.

l prefer to so place the ladder that the rounds or steps shall be at right angles to the wall of the building, and so that the descending side shall pass in close proximity toA the windows.

I provide suitable landings, L, at the different windows, and also one at the top of the ladder for the use ofthe firemen in getting off the ladder.

l. provide cages or carriers M, provided with hooks, so that they may be readily attached or detached. These carriers should be kept upon the different landings, erin some other easilyaccessible place, so that children or persons overcome by smoke or otherwise can be placed therein and lowered to the ground without dangern \\'hen it is desired to carryfiremen or apparatus to any point on the building reached by the ladder, this may be accomplished by elevating the ladder by means of the crank at the bottoni.

I provide means whereby the cages or carriers M are automatically detached when they reach the bottom of the ladder. To facilitate this, the carrier should be made, preferably, rectangular in form, and its sides project beyond the ladder at either side. Projecting arms 0 extend out from the frame-work at the bottoni of the ladder' far enough to engage with the inner edge ofthe carrier. The outer ends of these arms maybe inclined, as shown. As the ladder descends, and the carrier comes in Contact with these arms O, it is arrested, its

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hooks are disengaged i'roln the rounds oi" thc ladder by the upright-s O of the arms O, and' whereby the speed of the ladder will be autol inatieally controlled, substantially as described, and for the purpose set forth.

2. In a iire-eseape, the combination, with a I` revolving 0r extensible ladder and a detachable carrier, of projecting arms adapted to disengage said carrier, substantially as described, and for the purpose set forth.

GEO. W. HUBBARD.

Vitnesses:

THOMAS A. Kamine, E. F. HUBBIRD. 

